As previously reported by Community Impact Newspaper, the council approved $2.18 million from the New Braunfels Economic Development Corp. in April as part of an agreement to acquire the Union Pacific rail yard property located on South Castell Avenue.
Now the city has in place an agreement with the railroad company to purchase the land and aid in their legal costs and expenses to relocate to a property outside of the city in Comal County and to reimburse Union Pacific for engineering services related to moving the company’s offices to the new spot.
This moves the city one step closer to opening up the 3.63-acre rail yard downtown—located between South Castell and Hill avenues—to open up a total area of about 10 acres to redevelopment as part of the city’s South Castell Envisioning Plan, according to city documents.
In addition to the previously approved $2.18 million, the council approved a total of $409,315.50 for the engineering, design and acquisition costs associated with relocating the company.
Union Pacific uses the property as an office, switchyard and for refueling train engines.
The city estimates construction costs for the new Union Pacific office and rail yard to be $4 million, though an agreement on that has yet to be finalized.
